Gripping tool



Patented Dec. 11, 1945 1.,

-IUNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE` j, 2,390,570v` i `GRI'PPING rrooL i'Johnfl "Zm'dars, San Francisco, Calif. Applicatipn o'ctpter `12, 1942,serial No. 461,805 Y (C1. sx1- 151) 13 Claims. This inventionrelatestolgripping tools and particularly to hand tools, such as wrenches,

pliers, and the like.`

The primary object of the invention is to provide a manipulatingmechanism for quickly adjusting the jaws of a gripping toolapproximately to the outside dimensions of an object to be gripped, andthen by quick Vand positive action engaging thejaws from the work atwill;

larticularly,` it is anobject of this invention to provide amanipulating mechanism for relatively moving the jaws 4of a .grippingtool without tedious adjustment by screws or the' like, and tosimultaneously lock the jaws in saidadjusted positions. l I I p Anotherobject of this inventionis to provide a controlling mechanism for thejaws of gripping tools which is highly'useful and simple in,.construction. Convenience of arrangement, lightness and comparativeinexpense of manufacture are further objects which have been.` borne inmind in the production and development of the invention. l A I am awarethat some changes may be madein the general arrangementsY andcombinations of the several devices and parts, as Well as in the detailsof the construction thereof without departing from the scope of thepresent invention as set forth in the following specification, and asdefined in the following claims; hence I do` not limit my invention tothe exact arrangements and combinations of thesaid device and parts asdescribed in the said specification, nor do I conne .myself to the exactdetails of the construction of the said parts as illustrated intheaccompanying which will be made manifest in the following detaileddescription, reference is had tothe accom` Y.

panying drawing for the 'illustrative embodiment oftheinvention,.wherein: 1

` Fig. l is a partlysectional View of` afwrench showing my` jaw controlmechanism.

I Fig.,2is a fragmental edge view of saidzwrencli i .V

i trol mechanism in grippingposition.

In carrying outmy invention in connection with the type of wrenchherein, the openi'ngbef,` tween the jawsis adjusted 4in a `direction atright angles to the longitudinal axis of the l wrench handle. In theYherein illustratiomfthis wrench is made of a pair of complementa]half-sections I i which are longitudinally held together by'suitablerivets?, or screws, or other securingelefments, A suitable hole I3 isprovided inthe; end of the handle I4 for the purpose of hanging thetool. In the herein illustration thehandle I4 is suitably recessed onthe opposite sidesforimproving the hand grip and reducing the` weight ofthe tool. In the rst ilustrative embodiment herein, the gripping ends ofthe half sections!! are formed in the shape of a`flxed jaw I6 with agripping'face I'I substantially parallel'withjthe longitudinal axis ofthe tool. "In some toolsthe gripping faces may be at desiredangles tothe axis of the handle. It is to be noted'that a tongue and grooveconnection lI8; is provided between the opposite halves` ofthe jaw IB`fornassuring uniform andpositive alignment of ltheV superposedsections. Each of the half sections `II is provided with a guide recessI8 immediately beneath the gripping jaw I6 so as to provide` a" passagefor a movable guide block I9. The toplof this guide passage I8 issubstantially atl right anglesto thelongitudinal axis of the tool andthe lower wall of the guide passage I8 is tapered outwardlyl andawayfrom the jaw head of fisaid sections. Each of .these guide' recessesIhas a horizontal guide rail 2| formed thereon.Y The `guide block I9hjas a horizontal top slidab'lyengaged `with .the top of theY pasageformedabythe guide recesses I8 Vand a tapered lower edge'22 riding overthe inclinedlower walls of the guide recesses I8. The, guide block I 9has grooves 23 on its oppositesides vslidably engaged withV therespective guideA rails 2I in the Yguiderecesses` I8. On the top of theguideblock I9 and at theend farthest from thexed jaw I6, is providedanother gripping jaw .24;which latter is substantialy of thesameshapeasthexedjaw I6 and has a gripping face 26joppositelto and parallel withthe gripping `face I'I of the Afixed jaw I6. The position of thegripping jaw 24jis `adjusted by moving the guide block I9 in therecessesIB toward and away from the fxed jaw I6, in accordance with theadjustment required. lThe 2, Awhich is formed by one-of the lsecuringrivets ,or screwsjused for securingthe` half 'sections "III 'togethenfYThe guide blockA |19 is providedwith an end slot 28`which ts over theabutmentl.

The half sections II are so recessed on the inside faces thereof as toprovide a cavity 29 between the gripping end of the tool and the top ofthe tool handle portion. This cavity 29 is closed at one longitudinaledge by complemental longitudinal flanges 3I, and at the other edge bymassive anges 32 which on their outside contour taper to the outercurvature of the fixed jaw I5. Into this cavity 29 is placed themanipulating and locking mechanism for the adjustment of the guide blockt9 andE movable jaw: 24. =A lever 33 extends through an opening 34 atthe lower end of the cavity 29 and alongside the longitudinal.

flanges 3 I.

guide block I9. This lever 33 is pivoted in a suit- The free end of thelever 33 is in-A serted in a suitable slot 36 in the bottom/of the' usedto provide additional means for securing the half sections II together.The hole 34 `is sumciently largefto allowv themovement of the lever33-.t`o 4a. fullstroke towardthe xedi'aw face4 Il for..moving the guide.blockI I 9 and jaw 24..fa,r enough to bring the grippingfac'e 26. of thejaw .24 into contact with the grippingface I'I of the. xed

jan/I6..- 4

. Thebottom. 39 of the cavity 29., is parallel with the top-.of theguide block I9 and is at right angles to lthe..planes-of the grippingfaces Il andv 26. A side opening 4I is providedbetween the mas.- slveanges 32 and. .the top of thehandle portion. A wedge block `42 is placedin the bottom of the cavity 29.. This wedgeblock 421mg a. bottom 43which rides ontheV bottom wall 39 of the cavity 29.- '.The'top44 of thewedge block 42 is inclined parallelwiththe Atapered edge 22'Iof theguideV block .I9. The wedge block is so. located in the cavity 29-Ithatits shorter end 4E is opposite the opening. 4I and. its larger end 41 isadjacent-to, butdoes not touch the-lever 33... A socket. 48 'exa tendsfrom-.the larger. endA 4l vof thewedge' block 42 toward the shorter end46,v but it does not .extend entirely through the block. Inside of thissocket48 is. a plunger 49, the abutment head 5i of which abutsagainstthe lever 33. A coil spring 52 vis positioned aroundthe stem oftheplunger 49 and bears at oneend against the bottom of the socket 48,'and at its other end against the abutment head 5 I so as to urge theabutment head 5I against the lever 33.-

' Inside of thecavity 29and Ibetween the guide block I9 and ythe Wedgeblock 42,'is a spacer or lockingblo'ck 53..- Theends of thislockingblock 53'are tapered parallel'witheach other and with the tapered edge22rvof thegude block I 9 and the tapered top 440i the wedgeblock 42. Thelengthv of thel'locking. block 53 vi's such that it is in constantengagement with the' respective sides of the guide block I9 andwedgeblock 42.. The sidesl of the'lockingblock 53 are parallelwith thelongitudinalfaxis of the tool and in this illustration also with theplanes of the gripping faces I 7 and 25." One side of the locking block53 is in slidable contact with theinner faces of the massive flanges32.` "The-opposite side or edge of thelocking block v53 isinslidableycontact with a guide 54 secured operations 'with wrenches and pliers.

between its pivoted end and the hole 34 so as to' allow an easy grippingof the tool and an easy engagement by one hand for pressing the lever 33inwardly of the cavity 29. This pushing of the lever 33 causes themovement of the guide block I 9 and the jaw 24 therewith toward theiixed jaw I6. At the same time the wedge block 42 is also moved in thesame direction. The locking block 53 is engaged with the inclined side22 of the guide block I9 and with .the inclined. top 44 of thawedgeblock42 and it isforeed to move upwardly or toward the jaws of the tool.When the jaw 24 reaches the desired adjustment and engages the object,such as .a nut, then the force -that'is exerted on the jaw 24 tending topry it away from the jaw I6, is resisted by the wedging engagement ofthe inclined face 22 of the guide block-i9V with theftopiof the lockingblock 53 which latter, in turn, is pressed against the inclined top44-of the wedge block 42. This engagement is entirely fixed .andprevents any outwardmovementor the jaw 24 until such time that. the.wedge block 42 is pushed back towardthe lever 33... It is to be.notedthat the top of the .lever 33. must travela longer distancethantheportion of the leverv 33 opposite. the. wedge block 42.v .Thewedge block 4.2'ho.we.ver, is advancedin the. same proportion as theguide block I9 by the action of the plunger head 5I on the coil spring52,. whichlat.- ter in turn forces thewedgeblockAZ to move to the degreerequired t0 remain in. contact with the .locking block 53.

.In order to release the grip on the object,.the operator. pushes theshort end of the Wedge block 42 so that the Wedgeblock 42 .is moved`toward thellever 33,' thereby allowing the4 downward motion of' thelocking block 53and the corresponding outward horizontal motion of theguide block I 9.; so as to'carry the jaw 24 toward its outer position.Wherever the wedge block 42 is stoppd it positively holds the .openingbetween theljavv faces. I'I and 26, thereby providinga positive andquick control of the gripping distance between the jaw faces in allpositions.

' VIn generaLin all the forms of my invention all the necessityfortedious adjustment .for gripping and releasing of the wrench by screws,worms andthe like is entirely eliminated. The respective jaws oi thegripping tools of' my 4invention can be initially adjusted very quicklyby one` motion to approximately the size of the object' to be grippedwith justjsuflicient clearance to allow the'placingof the tool upon theobject. Then by another simple motion, which can be accomplished by thegripping hand of thev operator, the jaws are rmly locked upon the ob-'J'ect and loosening4 of the tool from the object is positivelyprevented.V In manipulating -the tool on. the object, the-'samev can beloosened by a simple. motionsufliciently to reposition the tool for thenext grip and then by a very slight motion of thev handles or the wedgeblock the Vjaws can be rmly locked' again on the object for. the nextmanipulation. This tool permitsV a positive andfirmengagement .with theobject Without any clearance or loosenessg- .and at the Vsame time itpermits an easier and quicker operation of quickly repeated grips.' asIareffrequentlyneeded in preliminary adjustment `and the final grippingcanbe laccomplished'with one hand and each in one step. The-principleland the mechanism involved for the-jawadjustment is simple; it can be.readily adapted for the various types o fV tools,

Both the lferationswith such tools;4

and resultsinhigher` eiiiciency and speed of, op-

. `1. In a gripping tool of the character described. `aqtool body,; an`adjustable jaw support comprising a jaw base movable on the toolbody tocarry `a jaw thereon to adjusted positions, a wedge' member on thetoolbody opposite the jawbase1 the edges 1of3said wedge member and ofsaid jaw base facing one another andbeing` inclined at substantiallyparallel angles, anelement held be- -tween said inclined edges of saidWedge member and said jaw base in compressionV and being reciprocable`so as totransmit-forces from thejaw `face Ato the Wedge at lsuch angleas to prevent movement of said jaw from its adjusted position,

means to simultaneously adjust the jaw base, and

said element on and by the wedge so as to move `thefjaw to selectedopenings, means tomaintain said element in constant contacting relationwith` said inclined edges of said jaw base. `and said wedge` member, andmeans to guide the jaw base so as to hold the jaw grippingvface at aconstant angle in all of its adjusted positions. 2. In a gripping `toolof the character describe `a`tool body, a movable jaw base on said'body,

la `jaw on said base adjustedby the positioning of (said jaw base toselected jaw openings, means onthe bodyto guide said jaw base so as tohold ,said jaw at constantangle with respect to said tool body, amovablewedge in said body,` said `jaw base `having an inclined side opposite toand spaced from said Wedge, an element held in com-v pression betweensaid inclined side of thebase and said wedge and being reciprocable insaid body, and means to simultaneously move said wedgeQsaid jaw base andsaid reciprocating element for adjusting the jaw opening and for holdingsaid jaw in said adjusted positions.

J 3, `In a gripping tool of the character described the combination witha tool body having a handle` and a fixed jaw, a movable jaw base on thebody, a jaw heldbythe movable jaw basejopposite said fixed jaw, means toguide said movable jawbase lon the body so as to main-tain the movtiallyright angles to the direction of movement of said wedge. and means formoving said wedge and `said jaw base simultaneously and m the samedirection. v

4. In a gripping tool of the character described, arbody and handleformed of complemental-super- `imposed sections, said sections beingrecessed on their opposed surfaces to form a hollow tool body,

`a iixed jaw formed on said body, a movable jaw support adjustablethrough vthe interior of' the hollow body toward to and `away from theplane ofthe face of said fixed jaw, a jaw on said jaw supportoppositethe xed jaw, means in the hol- "low body to guide said movable jawYsupport so as to hold said movable jaw substantially in`par- Lallelismwith said fixed jaw, theedge of said jawv support inside said body`being Vinclined with re- -spect to the-direction otmotion of said jawsup- `;port`, a wedge member movable through the hol-l lowbodysubstantially parallel`.with the movelment of` the jaw support,aninclined edge of'said wedge member being substantially parallel withthe inclined edge of said movable jaw support, an element between saidinclined side and inclined edge, means to hold said element forreciprocation on a path substantially at right angles to the path ofmovement of said support and said Wedge, the ends of said element beinginclined parallel with each other and with said inclined side and edgeand in constant contact therewith, an element engageable with said jawsupport for moving said jaw support, and abutment means between saidlast element and said wedge for moving said wedge simultaneously withand to the same extent as said jaw sulpport.

5. In a gripping tool of the character described, the combination withthe tool body having a handle at one endV and a jaw at the other endthereof, of a pair of spaced members movable in said body in the samedirection and transversely to the plane of the face of said jaw, one ofsaid members carrying ,a second jaw in opposite operative relation tothe first jaw, the edges of said members facing toward each other beinginclined in the same direction, an element between said spaced membersheld in said bodyrior recipro- -cation on a path at a constant angletothe direction of movement of said members; the opposite ends of saidreciprocating element being in constant contact with the opposedinclined edges of said members so as to hold the said jaw carryingmember against any movement relatively to the other movable member, andmeans for simultaneously applying a moving force to both of said membersfor adjusting the opening between said jaws.

6. In a gripping tool of the character described the combination withthe tool body having a handle at one end and a jaw at the other endthereof, of a pair of spaced members movable in said body in the samedirection and transversely to the plane of the face of said jaw, one ofsaid members carrying a second jaw in opposite operative relat-ionto thefirst jaw, theopposed edges of said members being inclined in the samedirection, an element between said spaced members vheld in said body forreciprocation on a path at Ma substantially constant angle to thedirection of movement of said members; the opposite endsof saidreciprocating element being in constant contact with the opposedinclined edges of said members so as to hold the said jaw carryingmember against any movement relatively to the other movable member, alever pivoted on the tool body vand connected to the jaw carrying memberfor .moving said jaw carrying member to adjusted handle at one end and ajaw atthe other end thereof, of a pair of spaced members movable in`said body in the same direction and transversely to the plane of theface of said jaw, one of said members carrying a second jaw in oppositeoperative relation to the iirst jaw, the oppositeedges of said membersbeing inclined in the same direction, an element between saidspaced`members held in said body for reciprocation on a lpath ata'substantially constant angle tothe direction ,of movement ofY saidmembers; lthe opposite-ends of said reciprocating element being inconstant'contact with the opposed inclined edges of said members solas.to hold'the ysaid jaw carrying viriember against any :movement=relatively oto' the z other movablemember, arlever piv'otedlin-the'handle of the tool'and'connected tosaid jaw carryingmember-Wherebya moving force can be imparted'to saidcjaw carryingmember, an engagement element movable in'saidi-other member, a spring insaid other member urging said engagefmentelement against said lever, theyforce 'of said spring being'such thatit lmoves -said other member tothewextent permitted by vv"the'adjustment movement of the jaw carryingmember.

8.- `In va gripping tool of the `character described the combinationwith the tool-` body vhaving a handleatL one end and a jaw at the otherend thereogofa pair of spaced :members movable in saidzbody in the samedirection .and transversely torthe plane of the face of said jaw, one`offsaid "members carrying a second jaw in opposedoperative-relationtothe first jaw, the opposite edges -ber whereby amovingforce can be imparted to sai'djaw carryingv member, an engagementelelmen-t` movable in said other member, a spring in said other memberurging said engagement element against said lever,l the force of saidspring being such that it moves said other member to the extentpermitted by the adjustment movement-of the jaw carrying member, saidlever being pivotedfbetween said other member and' the handle zof theto'ol. Y

9. Ina gripping tool of the character described the combination with thetool body having a handle atfone end and a jaw at the other endthereof,of a pair of` spaced members movable lin said body in the same directionand transversely to the plane of the face of said jaw, one of saidmembers carrying a second jaw in opposite operative relation tothe fixedjaw, the opposed edges of saidmembers being inclined in the same direc-"tion,v anl element between said spaced members held in said body forreciprocation on a path at a substantially constant angle to thedirection of movement of said members; the opposite ends of saidreciprocating element being in constant contact with the opposedinclined edges of said members so as to hold the said jaw carryingmember against any movement relatively to the other movable member, andmeans for simultaneously applying a moving force to both of said membersfor adjusting the opening between said jaws, said tool body being hollowand said members and said element between said members beingguidedwithin the cavity of the hollow body.

10. A wrench comprising a pair of superposed sections secured togetherto form the body, the handle and a fixed jaw of thewrench, the overlyingfaces of said sections in the body portion of said wrench being hollowso as to form a cavity in the wrench, a jaw carrying block, a jawextended from said block opposite to and in oper- `ative relation to theiix'ed jaw and being movable in said cavity so as to adjust the positionof the jaw carried thereby with respect to the xed jaw-to selectedwrench openings, means to guide said carrying b1ockionapredetermnedipath;.-a wdge block in said cavity'of the' tool bodybeingspaced from the jaw carrying block, the `inclined side of theWedge-block facing toward said carrying block, the side' ofsaid-carrying blockf'opposite'said Wedgel block being inclined insubstantial parallelism with the inclined side oi the wedge block, acompression element in said cavity inconstant engagement with theparallel sides of said jaw carrying block and said wedge block beingconned to reciprocating movement at a constant angle 'to thedirection'of the adjusting movements of vsaid blocksand in accordancewith thesimultaneous movementsl of said inclined sides 4of the blocks,a'hand lever pivoted in the handle and extended-into said cavity; saidhand lever being connected to saidjaw carrying block for moving thesame'according to the manual forces exerted onr said hand leverya springinthe jwedgeblock, an abutment pressed by said spring against said handlever so that Asaid Vspring 4is held under such compression ras toequalize the movement of the wedge'block with the adjusting movements ofthe jaw carrying block, said tool body having anl opening onV its edgeopposite said hand lever and at said wedge block to permit said wedgeblock to'protrude beyond said edgeofthe tool body when Vsaid hand leverand said jaw carrying blockV are moved toward the xed jaw, said4protruding end ofthe wedge block' being engageable by hand for movingthe wedgeblock and said hand lever in a direction to vmove the jaw carrying block awayrfrom said fixed jaw. 1

11. A wrench comprising a pair of superposed sections secured togetherto form the body; the handle and a'xed jaw of the wrench,.the-'overlying faces of said sections in the jaw portion of said wrenchbeing hollow so as Ato form a cavity in the wrench, a jaw carryingblock,.a jaw extended from said block opposite to and .in operativerelation to the xed jaw and being movable in said cavity so as to adjustthe position ofthe jaw carried thereby with respect to the fixed jaw toselected wrench openings, means to guide said carrying block on apredetermined pathfa Wedge block Ain said cavity of thetool body beingspaced from the carryingblock, the inclined side of the wedge blockfacing toward said carrying block, ythe side ofi Said carrying blockkopposite said wedgeblock being inelinedin substantial vparallelismlwiththe inclined side of the wedge block, a compressionelement in saidcavity in constant engagement with the parallel sides of said carrierblock and said wedgeblock and being conned to reciprocating .movement ata constant angle to the direction of adjusting movements of said blocksand in accordance with the simultaneous movements of said inclined sidesof the blocks, a lever pivoted in the handle and extended into saidcavity, said leverbeing connected to said jaw carrying block for movingthe same according to the manual forces exerted on saidlever, a springin the wedgeblock, an abutment pressed by said spring against said Yhandlever so thatsaid springk is held under such compression as to equalizethe movement ofthe wedge block withY the adjusting movements of the jawcarrying block, said tool vbo-dy having an opening on its edge oppositesaid hand lever and at said wedge block to `permit said wedgeblocktoprotrude beyond said vedge ofthe toolibody ,when said .hand lever andsaid jaWcarryingblok are moved toward the xed jaw, said protruding endof saidfwedge block being'engageable byhand'for moving the Vwedgeblo'cl:and said hand'l'ev'erzin a direction to move the jaw carrying block awayfrom said xed jaw, and means to limit the movement of said jaw carryingblock outward away from the xed jaw to the largest wrench jaw opening.

12. A Wrench comprising a pair of superposed sections secured togetherto form the body and handle and a fixed jaw of the wrench, the overlyingfaces of said sections in the body portion of said wrench being hollowso as to form a cavity in the wrench, a jaw carrying block, a jawextended from said block opposite to and in operative relation to thexed jaw and being movable in said cavity so as to adjust the position ofthe jaw carried thereby with respect to the fixed jaw to selected wrenchopenings, a wedge block in said cavity of the tool body being spacedfrom the carrying block, the inclined side of the Wedge block facingtoward said carrying block, the side of said carrying block oppositesaid wedge block being inclined in substantial parallelism with theinclined side of the wedge block, a compression element in said cavityin constant engagefment with the parallel sides of said carrier blockWand said wedge block and being conned to reciprocating movement at aconstant angle to the :direction of adjusting movements oi said blocksvand in accordance with the simultaneous movements of said inclinedsides of the blocks, a hand :lever pivoted in the handle and extendedinto jsaid cavity, said hand lever being connected to 13. A wrenchcomprising a pair of superposed sections secured together to form thebody, the handle and a iixed jaw of the wrench, the overlying faces `ofsaid sections in the body portion of said wrench being hollow so as toform a cavity in the wrench, a jaw carrying block, a jaw extended fromsaid block opposite to and in operative relation to the xed jaw andbeing movable block with the adjusting movements of the law l carryingblock, said tool body having an opening on its edge opposite said handlever and at said wedge block to permit said wedge block to protrudebeyond said edge of the tool body when said hand lever and said jawcarrying block are moved toward the xed jaw, said protruding end of thewedge block being engageable by hand for moving the wedge block and saidhand lever in a direction to move the jaw carrying block away from saidxed jaw, opposite guide projections in the cavity alongside the path ofsaid jaw carrying block, and said jaw carrying block having guidegrooves thereon travelling on said guide projections.

in said cavity so as to adjust the position of the jaw carried therebywith respect to the xed jaw to selected wrench openings, a Wedge lblockin said cavity of the tool body being spaced from the carrying block,the inclined side of the wedge block facing toward said carrying blockthe side of said carrying block opposite said wedge block being inclinedin substantial parallelism with the inclined side of the wedge block, acompression element in said cavity in constant engagement with theparallel sides of said carrying block and said wedge block beingconfined to reciprocating movement at a constant angle to the directionof adjusting movements of said blocks and in accordance with thesimultaneous movements of said inclined sides of the blocks, a handlever pivoted in the handle and extended into said cavity, said handlever being connected to said jaw carrying block for moving the sameaccording to the manual forces exerted on said hand lever, a spring inthe Wedge block, an abutment pressed by said spring against said handlever so that said spring is held under such compression as to equalizethe movement of the Wedge block with the adjusting movements of the jawcarrying block, said tool body having an opening on its edge oppositesaid hand lever and at said Wedge block to permit said wedge block toprotrude beyond said edge of the tool body when said hand lever and saidjaw carrying block are moved toward the iixed jaw, said protruding endof the Wedge block being engageable by hand for moving the -wedge blockand said hand lever in a direction to move the jaw carrying block awayfrom said fixed jaw, opposite guide projections in the cavity alongsidethe path of said jaw carrying block, saidjaw carrying block having guidegrooves thereon travelling on said guide projections, and means to alignand hold together the said sections forming the body and handle of saidtool.

JOHN B. ZIMDARS.

